Howard Outscores B-cc, 58-51, In Offensive Thriller

DAYTONA BEACH — Bethune-Cookman College's desperation attempt to overcome Howard University's 58-51 advantage fell short, or rather long, Saturday night as Anthony Thomas' 28-yard pass overshot the back of the end zone and bounced off Lebrone Sumpter's hands as the clock ran out.

Time seemed to be only thing that could stop either team in the scoring extravanganza at Memorial Stadium.

The touchdown fest before an estimated crowd of 5,300 broke Mid-Eastern Conference records for the most combined points scored in a game. The previous record was 86.

In picking up its first conference victory, Howard (2-0) showed why it was selected as the preseason MEAC favorite with lightning speed and pinpoint passing. But the Bison also displayed why they might have trouble living up to those expectations with a game virtually void of defense.

Howard amassed 740 yards total offense to B-CC's 678. B-CC quarterback Greg Ross turned in a superb performance with 426 yards passing before leaving the game with an injury early in the fourth quarter.

Both teams must have left the defensive playbooks on the team buses. And aside from a couple of interceptions, both defenses might as well have stayed on the buses, too.

But those interceptions proved to cost the Wildcats the game.

Howard scored on every possession of the game except one. After their only punt was called back on a B-CC penalty, the Bison failed on a 47-yard field goal attempt.

It looked like it might cost Howard the game when B-CC (1-2, 1-1 in the conference) closed the margin to 55-44 on its next possession, then immediately recovered a Bison fumble to score again on a 23-yard run by Thomas to pull to four, 55-51.

Howard, however, retaliated with a 40-yard field from John Harvell to secure the victory.

The Wildcats led only once in the game. After a 7-7 tie, Manny Manolas kicked 24-yard field goal to put B-CC up, 10-7.